Heliport
15th Dec 2003, 16:16
Extract from Utusan Malaysia online report Three workers trapped on mountain for 10 days rescued
GUA MUSANG - Three workers who were trapped on the top of Mount Gagau since Dec 3 were rescued by helicopter Saturday afternoon.
The five workers were flown to the mountain by a chartered Sabah Air helicopter on Dec 3 to record the total amount of rain that fell in the area. They were supposed to return by the same helicopter two days later but severe weather conditions made it impossible for the helicopter to return.
Heavy rains and mist patches surrounding the 1,500-metre high mountain, bordering the states of Kelantan and Terengganu, had hampered air rescue operations while floods made ground rescue impossible over the past two days. He said ground rescue operation could take at least six hours and more in adverse weather conditions.
They were airlifted by a Rescue helicopter at 6.10 pm and flew to its station here, the department's training and manpower planning division head Ismail Abdul Ghani told reporters Saturday. According to Ismail, the rescue operation this afternoon had centred on sending a team of 12 ground rescuers to get to the three workers.
"But the helicopter's pilot Captain Ali Abdul Ghani refused to give up and tried to rescue them. He succeeded," he said.
Last Wednesday, the first rescue team comprising personnel from the General Operations Force mounted to rescue the workers was forced to turn back due to very bad weather.
Last Thursday, the same team rescued two workers.
The three workers had been sent to Gua Musang Hospital and one of them was in worrying condition. The other two are all right, just exhausted," he said.
He said that in addition to prolong exposure to cold, they also had nothing to eat for several days, surviving only on rain water.
Ismail said the helicopters also airlifted the 12 rescuers in stages.
One of those rescued described their rescue as being back from the dead. "We were told that the Sabah Air helicopter could not return to pick us up due to very bad weather," he said. "Then the rain got heavier and lasted for several days and we were told over the walkie-talkie that the helicopter still could not make it," he said.
Hazmi said that after several days without food and surviving only on rain water, they all felt weak and tired.
Azmi said that in the face of death he kept thinking about his wife and children at home.
GUA MUSANG - Three workers who were trapped on the top of Mount Gagau since Dec 3 were rescued by helicopter Saturday afternoon.
The five workers were flown to the mountain by a chartered Sabah Air helicopter on Dec 3 to record the total amount of rain that fell in the area. They were supposed to return by the same helicopter two days later but severe weather conditions made it impossible for the helicopter to return.
Heavy rains and mist patches surrounding the 1,500-metre high mountain, bordering the states of Kelantan and Terengganu, had hampered air rescue operations while floods made ground rescue impossible over the past two days. He said ground rescue operation could take at least six hours and more in adverse weather conditions.
They were airlifted by a Rescue helicopter at 6.10 pm and flew to its station here, the department's training and manpower planning division head Ismail Abdul Ghani told reporters Saturday. According to Ismail, the rescue operation this afternoon had centred on sending a team of 12 ground rescuers to get to the three workers.
"But the helicopter's pilot Captain Ali Abdul Ghani refused to give up and tried to rescue them. He succeeded," he said.
Last Wednesday, the first rescue team comprising personnel from the General Operations Force mounted to rescue the workers was forced to turn back due to very bad weather.
Last Thursday, the same team rescued two workers.
The three workers had been sent to Gua Musang Hospital and one of them was in worrying condition. The other two are all right, just exhausted," he said.
He said that in addition to prolong exposure to cold, they also had nothing to eat for several days, surviving only on rain water.
Ismail said the helicopters also airlifted the 12 rescuers in stages.
One of those rescued described their rescue as being back from the dead. "We were told that the Sabah Air helicopter could not return to pick us up due to very bad weather," he said. "Then the rain got heavier and lasted for several days and we were told over the walkie-talkie that the helicopter still could not make it," he said.
Hazmi said that after several days without food and surviving only on rain water, they all felt weak and tired.
Azmi said that in the face of death he kept thinking about his wife and children at home.